# witcheer's Wingtips #80: skills.auto_load, the skills you want in every session, pinned

Written by [witcheer](https://x.com/witcheer) at Nous Research. Republished with credit.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/wingtips/80  
Published: 2026-09-22  
[Original](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/wingtips/80-skills-auto-load/) · [On X](https://x.com/witcheer/status/2102275176138178793) · [Full collection](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/) · [Official docs](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuration#auto-loading-skills-every-session)

[Source Markdown](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/notwitcheer/hermes-recipes/8653fb699a137a32e81936fa33cabacd3f4f2095/docs/wingtips/80-skills-auto-load.md): use this file as the base for relative links in the verbatim text below.

Sources: [Hermes docs: Configuration](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuration#auto-loading-skills-every-session)


Hermes Agent loads a skill when a task calls for it. some skills you want in every session whatever the task: a house style, a review checklist, the way you write commits.

new in Hermes Agent (v0.21.4 and newer): this key pins them. every name on the list is fully loaded at the start of every new session, on the CLI, on every gateway platform, in cron jobs.

```yaml
skills:
  auto_load:
    - my-workflow
    - github-pr-workflow
```

resolved once, when the prompt is first built, so the prompt stays cache-stable. an edit to the skill shows up in the next session.

`hermes -s <skill>` does the same for one launch. per profile, empty by default.

docs: [https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuration#auto-loading-skills-every-session](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/configuration#auto-loading-skills-every-session)